Soft Braided Anchoring Implant for Bone Tunnel Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current anchoring devices for attaching soft tissue to bone in minimally invasive surgeries, such as rotator cuff repair, face challenges like loosening, bone weakening, MRI interference, and complex suture management, which can lead to reduced repair predictability and increased risk of arthritis.
Innovation Solution
A knotless anchoring system using a soft, tubular braided implant with a suture pathway and a binding element that expands radially within the bone tunnel to secure the soft tissue without the need for a tertiary knot, ensuring a strong and stable attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional anchoring devices (polymers, metal, biodegradable compounds) are used to attach soft tissue to bone, then the attachment strength is improved, but the bone may be weakened or predisposed to fracture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters from traditional rigid polymers and metals to a soft, flexible braided construct that can elongate and contract. This parameter change allows the anchor to provide strong attachment while being compliant with bone tissue, avoiding bone weakening and fracture risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining soft flexible braided material with an elongatable core element. This composite approach provides both the flexibility needed to avoid bone damage and the structural integrity needed for strong soft tissue attachment
2Reliability
If multiple sutures are used for soft tissue to bone fixation, then the attachment security is improved, but the procedure time is lengthened and knot tying complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple suture functions into a single integrated soft flexible braided construct. The construct incorporates multiple sutures within its structure, allowing all attachment functions to be achieved through one implant rather than multiple separate suture passages and knot ties
Solution Approach 2:
The soft flexible braided construct is self-anchoring through its ability to elongate and contract within the bone tunnel. The construct automatically secures itself without requiring external knot tying, as the material properties provide inherent locking and retention
3Stability of the object's composition
If hard anchoring devices are used for soft tissue to bone fixation, then the attachment stability is improved, but the risk of joint damage and arthritis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the physical state and mechanical properties of the anchoring device from hard and rigid to soft and flexible. This parameter change eliminates the risk of hard device loosening and joint damage while maintaining attachment stability through the soft tissue's natural interaction with the flexible construct
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a soft flexible braided construct that behaves like a flexible shell within the bone tunnel. This flexible structure conforms to the surrounding tissue, provides stable attachment through compression and friction, and eliminates the hazards associated with hard devices
4Strength
If metal anchoring devices are used for soft tissue to bone fixation, then the attachment strength is improved, but MRI compatibility is compromised due to scatter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces metal materials with soft flexible polymeric or biodegradable materials in a composite braided construct. This material substitution maintains attachment strength while eliminating MRI interference, as the soft materials are non-magnetic and do not cause scatter artifacts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition parameters from metallic to non-metallic soft materials. This parameter change fundamentally eliminates the magnetic properties that cause MRI interference while preserving the mechanical strength needed for soft tissue attachment through alternative mechanisms
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a secure and stable attachment of soft tissue to bone with reduced risk of loosening and bone weakening, while allowing for easier MRI compatibility and minimizing the risk of joint damage, thus enhancing surgical predictability and patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a soft material anchoring system including an elongate, tubular braided soft anchoring implant, that has a first elongate state wherein the implant may easily slide within a bone tunnel, and a second axially compressed state such that the implant is wedged within this bone tunnel
Implementation Method 2
At least one suture pathway extends along and through a sidewall of the implant, this pathway intended for a portion of a length of suture, so that the length of suture may slide along this suture pathway and adjust the implant from the first elongate state to the second compressed state
Implementation Method 3
A binding element that at least partially extends within the implant, with a first larger binding portion and a second smaller sliding portion
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure includes a soft material anchoring system including an elongate, tubular braided soft anchoring implant. The implant has a first elongate state where the implant may easily slide within a bone tunnel, and a second axially compressed state where the implant is wedged within the bone tunnel. The implant also includes at least one suture pathway that extends along and through an implant side wall; this pathway receives at least a portion of a length of suture that is also attached to soft tissue. This length of suture may slide along the suture pathway and transition the implant from the first elongate state to the second compressed state. The system also includes a binding element that at least partially extends within the implant, the binding element having both a first larger binding portion and a second smaller sliding portion.